A Burundian delegation from the Rural Microcredit Fund (FMCR) is currently in Togo, precisely at the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI), to tap into the country’s experience relative to inclusive finance.

In effect, the mission’s goal is to learn from Togo’s good practices in terms of financial inclusion, in line with Burundi’s ambition to develop new types of financial products. According to the FNFI, the FMCR’s should, in the long run, meet the needs of Burundi’s economic operators.

Let’s recall that the FMCR already visited Togo for a similar mission. The first time was in September 2014 where both institutions’ heads shared their experience.

Also, in March 2019, it should be noted, Gabon had expressed interest in learning from Togo, still regarding its expertise in inclusive finance.

Séna Akoda

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, 2019, a country-level meeting on information and appropriation of the SDG 13 and 14 is to take place in Lomé. This was announced by the Francophone Africa Maritime Cluster (CMAF).

The event is themed: “Better understanding of SDG13 and 14 to contribute to the sustainable development of the blue economy.” It will “help turn various participants and CMAF members into engaged and committed contributors” towards the two goals’ achievement.  

In detail, SDG13 urges States to take immediate measures to tackle climate change and its impacts. As for SDG14, it calls States and other development actors to preserve and exploit oceans, sea surfaces and maritime resources sustainably.

CMAF let’s recall, regroups actors of the maritime ecosystem and of the industry providing maritime services of all sorts. “Its establishment in Lomé directly aligns with the ambition of Togolese authorities to make the country a top-class logistics hub.”

Séna Akoda

Tchitchabalo Songaï N'dassim is the new head of the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI). The economist and financier who was previously the consultant for microfinance institutions assumed his new position at the beginning of this week.

The newly appointed Managing Director will have as main objectives the pursuit and expansion of a program launched a few years ago and which falls in line with the third axis of the national development plan (PND 2018-2019).

The program concerned aims at developing innovative, yet adapted, strategies to meet needs for financial services of the country’s least favored populations. It focuses in this framework mainly on women and youth, and particularly on agriculture, with products like AGRISEF (Access to Financial Services for Farmers), PAS-AGRISEF, and PNPER (National Project for the Promotion of Rural Entrepreneurship).

In this regard, the Togolese institution seems to have picked the interest of some other African countries, namely Gabon and Burundi.

Ayi  Renaud Dossavi

ECOWAS has adopted a $1 billion five-year (2020-2024) plan to fight terrorism in the sub-region, Togo included. This was disclosed after an extraordinary summit of ECOWAS heads of State, last Saturday.

The new plan is based on eight strategic axes. Mauritania and Chad, two non-ECOWAS states are also adhering to the plan as they battle against terrorists as well.

Funds needed for the plan’s implementation will be mobilized at the national level, by all adhering countries.

In effect, the plan aims at accelerating harmonization and coordination of efforts of concerned States to tackle terrorism, direct sharing of information between these States, as well as training and equipping actors fighting the threat.  

Besides developing key investment programs in fragile zones, the plan should reinforce actions of the G5 Sahel joint forces and identify sources of financing of terrorism in the region, such as drug trafficking.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

All over the country, 1,639 damaged boreholes equipped with manual pumps, will be rehabilitated, starting this month. The announcement comes from the ministry of water, rural equipment and hydraulics (MEERHV).

The boreholes were identified during an assessment of boreholes and small scale systems for drinking water distribution in rural and semi-urban areas.

Rehabilitation of the boreholes, according to the minister of water, should improve the lives of rural people by improving their access to drinking water. It falls under the Vulnerable Populations Support Program (PAPV), under its ‘Water and Sanitization’ segment.

Still, to improve populations’ living standards, Togolese public authorities created a mobile platform enabling them to have continuous access to drinking water. The initiative falls in the framework of the SOFIE project (Project for the Monitoring of Boreholes and Water Indicators).

In 2017, let’s recall, 1,559 boreholes were rehabilitated.

Séna Akoda

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has launched a call for submissions of projects for its 2020 Abdoulaye Fadiga Prize. The initiative grants a XOF10 million funding to a researcher or team of researchers from any of the eight WAEMU States (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo).

Limit age for applicants is 45 years (at December 31, 2018).

This year, topics of interest include monetary and financial sector analysis, study of macroeconomic issues related to public finances, public debt and coordination between monetary and budgetary policies, issues related to regional economic integration, study of challenges related to employment, economic growth and price stability in developing countries.

The prize, let’s recall, rewards original projects, related to the monetary and financial sectors and have a scientific interest for WAEMU States and the BCEAO.

Deadline for submissions: July 31, 2020

Application to the upcoming Mandela Washington Fellowship was launched last week and will close on October 9, 2019.

This year, just like the previous one, 700 Africans will travel to the US in the summer of 2020 for six weeks. In the trip’s framework, beneficiaries will get theoretical and practical training on the three following themes: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Engagement, and Public Administration.  

The fellowship aims at enabling young Africans to boost their leadership skills, in their community and respective domain of activity. They will also have the opportunity to explore a new environment, hence gaining more expertise. At the initiative’s pinnacle is a global summit held in Washington D.C.

Last year, 10 young Togolese were selected for the fellowship.

In Agoè Cacaveli, Lomé, works are ongoing to build a modern quality control laboratory just beside the Togolese Institute for Agricultural Research (ITRA).

The information was disclosed to Togo First last Friday by a source at ITRA. “We are building a laboratory for more precise analysis, and quality control of agro-food products,” the source said.

Construction works which are expected to cost nearly XOF100 million will be financed by the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Initiative (PPAAO), the Youth Employment and Insertion Support Program (PAEIJ-SP) and the Risk-sharing-based Agricultural Financing Incentive Mechanism (MIFA).

The new laboratory will be equipped with the tools capable of delivering top standard services to public authorities and consumers. These tools, should, according to the same source, cost XOF200 million.

Séna Akoda